Jason is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. He grew up a multi-racial "Urban Indian" in the heart of Seattle.

He manages the largest public school Title VII Indian Education program in the state, serving 1,300 students with Native heritage through Puget Sound Educational Service District. PSESD serves five school districts in Pierce County providing cultural and educational support to students. The Native American Education program provides literacy and math support to all grade levels as well as a college prep program for high school students.

Jason over-sees a staff of 8 and works closely with each district to ensure the direct service to students fits within each schools schedules and that school and district staff are updated on the work being done. Jason feels that he is fortunate to work in a region that is surrounded with traditional Native American knowledge, history and culture.

SecretaryMaxine AlexFederal Way Public School District

malex@fwps.org

TreasurerVal KimballSouth Kitsap Public School District

kimball@skitsap.wednet.edu

Val Kimbal is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation. She has served as the WWNAEC treasurer since spring 2008. The South Kitsap School District has 438 AIAN students and serves 170 in their Indian Education Program. In addition to her work for the school district, Val is also one of the Curriculum Coordinators for Diversity at South Kitsap and one of the “founding mothers” and the District Coordinator for the PALS mentoring program that is currently in its 10th year. The mentoring program matches adult mentors with students in our school district that could use another caring adult in their lives.

HistorianTheresa LockremKent School District

Theresa.Lockrem@kent.k12.wa.us

My name is Theresa Lockrem, and I have worked in the Education field since 1994. I worked for the Highline School District in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for eight years and then the Native American Program for nine years. I currently work for the Kent School District as the Native American Academic and Cultural Liaison. I also interpret for the Deaf for the Kent School District when needed.

On my off time, I dance with an Alaskan Tlingit group whom have adopted me. My own heritage is of the Cherokee Eastern Band, Long Hair Clan on my mother’s side.

Member At LargeShelley HamrickKelso School District

Shelley has worked for Kelso Indian Education Program since October of
1989, working together with a strong parent advisory committee to serve
the needs of approximately 400 students in 7 elementary schools, 2
middle schools, 1 high school, Loowit alternative
school, Kelso Virtual Academy as well as several Running Start
students at Lower Columbia College. Our program has tutoring program
staff in 8 of our buildings. We hold many cultural events throughout
the year with the highlight being our "In Honor of Our
Children" Powwow held on the 3rd Saturday of May each year at Kelso
High School.

Member At LargeSonja BerryKitsap School District

soniab@cksd.wednet.edu

Sonia Barry is a descendent of the Aleut people. She has been an educator for 17 years, focusing in Secondary Visual Arts. The 2013-14 school year is Sonia’s first year as the Title VII coordinator, and she has over 200 Native students across 18 schools in the district. Her program provides academic and cultural enrichment. The program also has a Parent Advisory committee that meets every quarter. They offer culture clubs at 8 sites, one on one tutoring, Native Culture Night in November, an Honoring Ceremony in May, and a one-week Culture camp in the summer. Last year the program offered Since Time Immemorial (curriculum) training to all 12 elementary sites 4th grade teachers, made wooden trunks with native decals and filled them with 30 instructional resources to support the Native perspective & inclusion in the WA state history section. Sonia is looking forward to continuing this good work with the Title VII grants and the generous donations to keep the program and culture alive.

Want to join the Western Washington Native Education Consortium?

If you live in western Washington and work with Native Youth, contact us. Our membership fees are $20 for an individual membership or $30 for an organizational membership. Fill out the FORM and email it to Val Kimball.